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crying..mad...upset...so disgusted and feeling

post #1 of 42
7/19/07 at 11:52am
Thread Starter 
like I will NEVER learn how to do a loopy bow!!! I made my fondant..added gumpaste, rolled it out (fine) cut (fine), started making my loops...kinda had problems but...turned out ok...all of them were nice teardrop shapes (thanks cakesbyallison for the tip) and dried them using a fan to speed up process (the bow isn't due on a cake till the 30th). Well they dried really nice and I pearl dusted them...Here is where I had the problem...I started putting them together....put a glob of RI on the bottom (on wax paper) started my first row but the first row started getting thicker and thicker... already didn't look right...started my 2nd row and used waded up paper towels to prop them up till the RI dried...looking more pathetic...then my last row....I got so angry (I am a mild tempered person)...I got up walked away...decided to put the curly q's on and the big fondant hearts for the middle of the bow and it looked even worse!!!!!!! Now Im crying..my little girls looking at me..I chuck it in the garbage...all that work and it made me so mad I chucked it!!!!!!!! icon_sad.gificon_cry.gificon_cry.gificon_cry.gif Now they know I have never done a bow (the person who this cake is for..) But I wanted to learn this so bad that I couldn't stand it...then to hear people say.."OHHHH It is sooooo easy"...well I must be a flipping darn forsaken dummy dummy (*#&(##&(&n of a person because I can't ...Sorry for the rant..but I have no clue how I am possibly gonna learn this if I am all of a sudden losing my patience!!! Has anybody elses bows been failures???? oh yeah, I didn't take a pic cause even my youngest (5 year old) said what is that mommy a spider???? OOOOOOOOOHHHH Help me please before I lose my sanity!!



Thanks for "listening" icon_redface.gif
Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
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Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
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post #2 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:12pm
I have had a few early bows look a bit peculiar. Don't be so hard on yourself. Learning new things can be tricky. It does help to SEE the assembly. Is there someone near you that can show you first hand?

Without seeing your loops and your assembly, I can't help with what went wrong.
Cake. So many flavors, so little time.
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Cake. So many flavors, so little time.
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post #3 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:18pm
Thread Starter 
hmm...well I could dig it out of the trash I guess lol..

well I went and checked and kids already through stuff on top of it icon_sad.gif...I do though have pics of the loops ....just not put together....this was supposed to go on a 7 x 7 square cake. So what do you think the length of the bow loops should of been (before forming the loop?)


edited for spelling
Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
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Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
Reply
post #4 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:27pm
Sometimes it seems a little harder than it really is.

I use nothing but MMF or regular fondant, depending on the color need, to make my bows.

I roll it out, use a straight edge and a pizza cutter to cut it. ( I just eyeball the lengths) Usually about 5 1/2 inches or so, making some for the upper section just a bit smaller. A dab of water on one end, pinch the ends together. Lay them on their sides on a cookie sheet and let them dry.

I also never put the bows together ahead of time, just a glob of buttercream and insert bow ends, propping each row on top of the last. You can move them around until you get it just right. Also, when it comes time for the party, the server can just pull it apart and everyone gets a loop with their piece of cake.
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post #5 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:40pm
I always use gumpaste to make my bow loops it dryes quickly and are very sturdy, and i use a small amount of fondant to insert them on, instead of buttercream i find it gives more support. Best of Luck!!!
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post #6 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:43pm
My first bow (in my pics) took me oh, like, two days to put together icon_mad.gif I rolled, and cut and formed just like it said in the directions too. Let them dry overnight. Dusted them as you did and when it came time to put together, they were HUGE! None of them 'fit' when I laid them . I don't recall where the directions came from, Oh yes, I think it was Wil... ! Anyways I ended up havin to cut the bottoms into points in order to make them fit. And it was still quite big. icon_biggrin.gif I then found the tutorial on CC, which made a whole lot more sense to me. I recommend reading that one before your next bow. I have made a few since and it goes alot smoother for me. Sorry this is so long - just wanted to let you know you aren't alone icon_biggrin.gif
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post #7 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:44pm
http://www.cakecentral.com/article17-How-to-Make-a-Fondant-Loop-Bow.html

Try this article, it might help you to be able to see what you need to do to correct the problem.

Susan
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post #8 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:46pm
Thread Starter 
Sable that is to funny, because I too ended up cutting my loops ...made points on the ends....still when I put them together...no dice...still looked awful..and like I said I am usually a very very patient person. I guess it just wasn't my day. I do have that tutorial but I thought I had done it right...going to read it again and see just where I went wrong
Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
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Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
Reply
post #9 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:48pm
Thread Starter 
Sable that is to funny, because I too ended up cutting my loops ...made points on the ends....still when I put them together...no dice...still looked awful..and like I said I am usually a very very patient person. I guess it just wasn't my day. I do have that tutorial but I thought I had done it right...going to read it again and see just where I went wrong
Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
Reply
Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
Reply
post #10 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:49pm
I also never put the bows together ahead of time. Tried once-total disaster! icon_cry.gif
I let them dry as many days as possible, turning them over on both edges to get the whole loop dry. Then after my cake is frosted, I do a little test run to see which loop will go on which layer right on the counter ( without the frosting "glue") then I assemble it right onto the cake. icon_biggrin.gif

It sounds like yours weren't dry enough to start assemblng it. Don't give up, just try again. When you added your luster dust did you mix it with something (vanilla, water etc.) or did you brush it on dry? If it was applied wet it would affect your bows and they need to dry out again before assembly.

Good luck, you CAN do it! thumbs_up.gif
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post #11 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:55pm
Thread Starter 
no I actually brushed them dry..Maybe they weren't fully dry though there did seem to be a little give to them...but when you all assemble yours ..for the loops at the bottom do you pinch the ends like flat or pinch them so the pinch is straight up and down? Could that be my problem? When I pinched the bottom of the loops I thought they would work better if I did them flat so they could lay on top of each other...or do you go around in a circle instead of on top of each other?
Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
Reply
Christi
(NO I am not a goat farmer LOL)


I get enough excercise just pushing my luck
Reply
post #12 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:55pm
Oh you poor thing! My first one didn't go so well either so you're not alone. I cut the pieces for the loops too long first. Then when I was putting it together, I also found that it didn't fit very well together. I'm wondering is there something else that we can use to put them together besides frosting so that they can be put together ahead of time and can be moved as a single unit. That would make it alot easier for me.
Accountant by day....Masked baker by night!
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Accountant by day....Masked baker by night!
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post #13 of 42
7/19/07 at 12:56pm
I just got done making my first bow for my daughter's birthday party this Saturday. I made the loops, let them dry and thought I'd get a head start by putting them together yesterday. Somehow, the moisture from the royal icing made my loops damp again and they all started to wilt. I've got them all jerry rigged right now hoping they'll dry again and keep the right shape. But, my first bow experience wasn't (or should I say isn't) great either! We'll see if there is a happy ending when I finish the cake on Saturday.
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post #14 of 42
7/19/07 at 1:09pm
I am right there with you. I have now made something like 4 bows and none of them have turned out right. No offense to the tutorial here on the cc site but that is the one that I have used and everything is fine up until it is time to assembe the stupid thing and then it just looks awkward and nothing seems to "fit" together like it should. I have just about gave up and started to by my loops already made out in the sizes that I need from my supplier. I feel your pain icon_smile.gif
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post #15 of 42
7/19/07 at 1:16pm
I was just reading someplace yesterday on here and somebody said to leave in the tissue or plastic wrap in the bow until you place it on the cake and then take it out so the shape of the loops is supported as long as possible I guess. Good luck with the next one. I would suggest taking pictures that way if you have trouble along the way you can ask and get better help.
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